Gators QB Jeff Driskel will play at FSU, too early to tell how much

GAINESVILLE — The Florida Gators' quarterback situation is not ideal, but it could be worse headed into the biggest game of the year.

With a spot in a BCS bowl and possibly the national title game at stake for the No. 4 Gators (10-1), coach Will Muschamp said Monday he expects injured starting quarterback Jeff Driskel to play this weekend at No. 10 Florida State (10-1).

Driskel's workload at practice this week and Florida's reliance on him on Saturday against the nation's top-ranked defense will hinge of how his sprained right ankle progresses during the week.

Muschamp said Driskel worked out Sunday, but would not participate in a light practice on Monday. The sophomore from Oviedo is expected return to the practice field on Tuesday for the first time since he was injured on Nov. 10 during the third quarter of Florida's win against Louisiana-Lafayette.

"We're going to see how the week goes," Muschamp said Monday. "I know right now, based on yesterday, that he will play in the game. How much he's going to play, whether he's going to start, I don't know that right now."

Prior to his injury, Driskel had been the team's starter since the second half of Florida's Sept. 1 opener against Bowling Green and helped the Gators to a 7-1 record in SEC play.

With coaches undecided on a season-opening starter, fellow sophomore Jacoby Brissett played during the first quarter against Bowling Green. But other than mop-up duty in a blowout wins against Kentucky and South Carolina he would not see action again until Driskel limped off the field two weeks ago.

Brissett eventually led Florida to a game-tying touchdown in the final two minutes of a 27-20 win against ULL. This past Saturday, he started against FCS member Jacksonville State and, at times, during a 23-0 win breathed life into the SEC's worst passing offense (143.4 yards a game).

The sophomore from West Palm Beach had 119 passing yards by halftime — more than Driskel managed in all but one of the previous six games. Brissett finished the day 14 of 22 for 154 yards, but Florida's receivers dropped several balls and coaches called fewer throws downfield once the Gators led 17-0 five minutes into the third quarter.

Muschamp said he hopes by week's end to have one quarterback handle the lion's share of snaps with the first-team offense. But Florida's coach would not say whether Driskel would be the starter if he proves to be healthy.

"I'm not going to get into playing all the 'if' game," Muschamp said. "We're going to see what it is Tuesday, and we're going to move from there."

Each quarterback has different strengths and weaknesses.

Brissett is comfortable in the pocket and throws with zip and accuracy, but he is not a threat in the run game. Driskel is a dual-threat quarterback with 26 runs of 10 yards or longer this season, but does not make quick decisions in the passing game.

While the Seminoles will have to prepare for distinct quarterbacks, whoever is under center for the Gators will face a tall order in Tallahassee.

Florida State allows an average of just 236.3 yards per game and feature a defensive front with talent, experience and depth. For the Gators' lagging offense, which ranks No. 104 nationally out of 120 teams with 332.9 yards per contest, the quarterback could be at the mercy of what happens in front of him.

"They are very athletic," Muschamp said of the Seminoles' fearsome front. "They got girth. They got size. They got speed. They've got a lot of depth and they throw a lot guys in there to play."